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I had someone ask me today, “What’s Criderfest?” I had to explain that it’s our shorthand way of describing our annual beer festival properly known as the 2nd Shift and Friends Beerfest. As this is our 777th annual beerfest and we’ve moved into our new digs in the city, we all wanted to throw a hell of a party.

Like this:

So, I need you guys to keep a secret. I know, me posting this on the internet seems like it’s in direct conflict with trying to keep a secret. I’ll explain to you in a little bit why this secret should hopefully work.

Believe it or not, we’ve had 2nd Shift Brewing and owner/brewer Steve Crider in our lives for four years now. Steve has been quietly (can Steve be quiet?) producing some of the best beers in the St. Louis area.

Known originally for his ultra-hoppy, ultra-delicious ales, Crider has also begun playing around with wild yeasts and saisons creating some very unique, very distinctive beers.

Steve’s fiancé Libby Brown has been active with the brewery for almost two years now and has watched as Steve has succeeded (and even struggled at times) keeping 2nd Shift going. Because Crider would never do it himself, Libby wants to celebrate Steve and his accomplishments.

To celebrate, brewery friends Perennial Artisan Ales are giving up part of their tasting room next Saturday, November 29th to throw a party to praise Steve Crider and 2nd Shift Brewing. Beginning at 5PM, Perennial will be hosting a few 2nd Shift Beers, a few Perennial beers, and a few 2nd Shift Collaborations.

There are going to be some awesome 2nd Shift beers on tap including PARKAS (a new 2nd Shift/Side Project collaboration) and the newest iteration of the Blueprint Coffee Liquid Spiritual Delight. There will be some other tasty treats available as well.

Now, if I’m putting this on the internet, how are we keeping this a secret? Here’s what you don’t realize with Steve Crider, as long as you don’t @ him on Twitter, there is a good chance he’ll never see your tweet.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Steve Crider likes to get a bit of a rise out of people on Twitter. He enjoys putting something crazy out there and seeing the reactions. As long as people don’t tell him that we’re having a party for him next week, he probably won’t find out.

So, let’s try to keep this to ourselves. There are some opportunities to see Steve this weekend, so let’s try to not blow it. This is an experiment to see if the internet can keep a secret. I think we can do it. (And there is a bonus party at the end of the experiment if we can pull it off!)

Like this:

I’m usually the first person to admit when I’m wrong. Nothing wrong with making a mistake, that’s how we all learn. I will fully admit I was wrong way back in 2009 when the International Tap House in Chesterfield opened.

I thought to myself, “No way this works.” It’s not that I didn’t trust what co-owners Brad Lobdell and Sean Conroy were doing. It’s not that I didn’t think they could run a bar. I honestly didn’t trust the St. Louis drinking public to embrace this new kind of bar.

In hindsight, it’s all rather genius. A beer focused solely on craft beer. No food, no brewery-on-premise, no gimmicks; just a bar serving awesome craft beer.

Brad and Sean will be the first to admit the concept of a craft-focused bar wasn’t a unique idea. But opening this kind of bar right on the cusp of a beer Renaissance in St. Louis forever changed how craft beer was viewed in St. Louis.

Five years later, Brad and Sean proved a lot of people wrong. And now it’s time to celebrate how wrong many of us were. To celebrate five years, iTAP Chesterfield will be throwing a week-long celebration. Here’s the line-up of events:

Sunday February 2nd Super Bowl – Super Share 3PM

Bottle Share

Homebrew Share

Pot Luck

The event will last throughout the Super Bowl and we encourage everyone to bring in a rare/special bottle or even a homebrew for a “kick-off” toast to our 5 years of being open! We’ll also be having a pot luck, so if you’re a good cook, bring plenty to share!

Monday February 3rd – “Memory Monday” 6pm

1/2 off all the taps

Original beer lineup (or close as we can)

DJ Randall at 8pm

We’ll be bringing back our very first draft lineup we had back in 2009, or as close as we can get to it! You’ll be surprised by how far we’ve come in our beer choices in St. Louis! ALL taps will be ½ off.

We’re giving away a trip for two to Bell’s Brewery in Michigan! All you have to do is drink Bell’s beer at our Chesterfield or Soulard location now until 2/3/14 to be entered. Winner will be chosen at 8pm on 2/4 and you must be present to win! Also enjoy some of Bell’s special release beers.

Wednesday February 5th –Perennial/Abraxas Night 6pm

Abraxas 2013

Abraxas Vanilla

Abraxas Coffee

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Peach Berliner Wiesse

MAYBE Fantastic Voyage –(have to wait to see if Cory thinks it is good)

The Perennial team will be celebrating with us on Wednesday by sharing some of their most sought after Abraxas variants: including the 2013 release, Abraxas Vanilla, and Abraxas Coffee. Other special release offerings by Perennial will also be on draft.

Thursday February 6th – Boulevard & Passport Appreciation 6pm

Saison Bret3

Chocolate Ale (stl launch party)

Foeder Projekt

Brewer Jeremy Danner will be traveling to St. Louis to party with us at iTap. We’ll be featuring some awesome special releases including 2013 Saison Brett, the release of 2014 Chocolate Ale, and an exclusive Keg of Foeder Projekt (very rare wood barrel-aged series). We’ll also be showing our Passport Members some love with a limited edition iTap 5-year t-shirt.

Friday February 7th – Firkin Friday 4pm

4 Hands – making us a special IPA Variation

New Holland Dragon’s Milk

2nd Shift LSD with Blue Print Coffee

Left Hand Milk Stout

Some of our favorite breweries are kind enough to give us super fresh Casks of their beer. What better way to celebrate the Friday of our 5 year anniversary?

Saturday February 8th –Celebrity Bartender 12pm

12pm – Brad, Sean, & Greg

1:30pm – Cory and Karen King

3pm – Tracy, Jon, & Lisa

4:30pm – Jason & Caitlin

Music by Adam Stanley at 3pm

To bring an end to the week of iTap beer drinking, we are throwing some familiar faces back behind the bar. There will also be some free food at 1pm for all to enjoy. Bartenders will pick the beer special during their shift. This gang is sure to not disappoint!